Chris McCausland, the celebrated comedian who triumphed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2024, has opened up about his extraordinary life journey, from losing his sight to achieving national fame. The 48-year-old, who has just published his memoir Keep Laughing and is touring his show Yonks! until May 2026, shared candid insights in a revealing interview.
From Software Engineer to Stand-Up Star
Born in Liverpool, McCausland initially pursued a career as a software engineer. However, his life took a dramatic turn in his twenties when he lost his sight due to a genetic disorder. Forced to change careers, he moved into sales before finding his true calling in stand-up comedy in 2003.
Reflecting on his happiest years, McCausland pinpointed his college days, aged 17 to 19. "Before the responsibilities of adulthood, just doing the things that I was good at and liked – computers, maths, further maths. I was a geek," he confessed.
Strictly Success and BAFTA Glory
McCausland describes his Strictly Come Dancing victory as his greatest achievement. "I went into it thinking I would last two weeks!" he admitted. His waltz with professional dancer Dianne Buswell was so memorable it earned the Memorable Moment BAFTA in 2025.
When asked to describe himself in three words, the comedian offered a characteristically honest assessment: "Hard-working, resilient, irritating." This resilience has clearly served him well, both in his comedy career and on the dance floor.
Life, Laughter and Honest Confessions
McCausland didn't shy away from sharing his most embarrassing moment, which occurred as he was losing his sight. "I went into an undertaker's thinking it was a barber's," he recalled. "I asked the undertaker whether he had many waiting."
He also revealed a surprising secret from his past – cheating in an exam by hiding an electronic copy of To Kill a Mockingbird on his laptop, which he was permitted to use due to his visual impairment.
Among the more difficult experiences he shared was being thrown out of a club by bouncers after accidentally walking into someone. When he explained he was registered blind, they responded: "Don't give a fuck – you don't belong in here." McCausland reflected that as a straight white man, this gave him "a taste of what other people have to contend with."
Now married with one child and living in London, McCausland continues to push boundaries. With over 100 new dates added to his theatre tour and a successful memoir, his career shows no signs of slowing down. He even joked about considering a hair transplant, noting that "when you're a comedian, it's tax deductible."
